September 2013

September is Attendance Awareness Month!

Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joseph A. Ovick, and District Attorney, Mark Peterson, are embarking on an awareness campaign, Every School Day Counts: Attend today, achieve for a lifetime!

There is a relationship between unhealthy behaviors and low school attendance. For example, students who smoke cigarettes are eight times more likely to report being truant in 7th grade. (WestEd Factsheet 5) Students who do not attend school also miss the opportunity to participate in important prevention programs.

For more information on the campaign and to access the customizable toolkit and posters, click here.

Sincerely,

Emily Justice
Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE)

Contra Costa County Youth Health Coalition (CYHC)

Now Accepting Applications!

Vision: We envision the Contra Costa County Youth Health Coalition to be a youth-centered and directed group that plays a leadership role in addressing health-related issues. Young people will develop skills that empower them to create healthy environments through awareness and advocacy projects.

We are now accepting applications for the 2013-2014 school year. Applications are due by Friday, September 30.

Students in grades 8 - 12 who attend school in Contra Costa County are eligible to apply.

More information, application instructions and forms:

Questions? Contact Emily Justice.

Photo Contest: Tobacco and Its Impact in My Community

Sponsored by the California Department of Public Health's Tobacco Control Program and the American Cancer Society, this contest will showcase images submitted by California students that "tell the story" about tobacco control issues that significantly impact youth and disadvantaged communities.

For contest information, flyers and rules, click here.

Registration Now Open!

Register now for these upcoming trainings

Impact of Bullying & Violence on Students

This training will address the impact of violence on brain development; new research on bullying; school and family violence; the relationship between violence and student suicide; and research-based prevention and intervention programs.

Friday, October 4

8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Location: CCCOE
Fee: $20
Training Flyer

Registration

CHKS Adminstration & Data Sharing

This training provides an overview of survey administration, as well as concrete strategies to analyze and share data with students, staff, parents and the general community.This training is appropriate for district and school staff as well as community partners working with schools.

Wednesday, October 23

8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Location: CCCOE

Fee: No Cost

Registration

Food Day is October 24

A nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable,

and sustainably produced food.

Here are ideas for how schools can get involved:

Create a class mural of healthy fruits & vegetables
Have a drawing or coloring contest
Organize a Food Day Festival

For more information, check out the Food Day Brochure

Thank You

We hope you enjoyed this month's Health & Wellness Matters e-newsletter! If you have suggestions for future articles or resources to share, contact Emily Justice.